U.S. Coordinator: Michael Wehner, Senior Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
México Coordinator: Tereza Cavazos, Researcher, Department of Physical Oceanography. Center of Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE).
Description: Climate change is the overriding environmental challenge of our time. Given the socio-economic impacts of climate change, it is imperative that we develop effective adaptation strategies to minimize its impact. Efficient adaptation strategies to climate change require engagement of all sectors of society. Mexico and California share climate change impacts not only because of the large border region and ocean between them, but also because climate change related extreme events such as droughts, heat waves, coastal storms, and floods are likely to increase in intensity and number in both regions. In this session, the following questions will be discussed:
Which threats from climate change are shared by Mexico and California?
- Physical systems
- Water (continental and ocean)
- Drought (meteorological and agricultural)
- Heat waves
- Tropical cyclones
- Other topics
- Human systems
- Food security
- Human health
- Tropical and winter storm damage
- What specific research areas of climate change science and adaptation can Mexico and California engage in immediately?
- What physical and social science research opportunities and capabilities can be developed between Mexico and California?
- What are the barriers (or gaps) to cooperation in developing effective engagement in the climate change sciences between Mexico and California?
- What common resources are available that can inform adaptation strategies and policies across borders?